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Relationship of microglia and astrocytes to amyloid deposits of Alzheimer disease
Itagaki S, McGeer PL, Akiyama H, Zhu S, Selkoe D.. Journal of neuroimmunology, 1989-10-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
The relationship of microglia and astrocytes to deposits of beta-amyloid protein (BAP) was studied in Alzheimer's disease by immunohistochemistry. BAP was detected in forms varying from diffuse amorphous deposits to compact spherical masses. These latter corresponded in frequency and distribution to senile plaques revealed by Bielschowsky and thioflavine S staining.
Key findings
- BAP was detected in forms varying from diffuse amorphous deposits to compact spherical masses.
- These latter corresponded in frequency and distribution to senile plaques revealed by Bielschowsky and thioflavine S staining.
- Approximately half the diffuse deposits had no human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR-positive reactive microglia associated with them while nearly all compact deposits had single or multiple HLA-DR-positive reactive microglia embedded in their core.
- Electron microscopy showed these reactive microglia to be in intimate contact with amyloid fibrils.
Why it matters
Staining brain tissue from people with Alzheimer's disease, this study found beta-amyloid in forms ranging from "diffuse amorphous deposits to compact spherical masses", with the compact ones matching classic senile plaques. "Nearly all compact deposits" had reactive (HLA-DR-positive) microglia "embedded in their core", and electron microscopy showed these cells "in intimate contact with amyloid fibrils", whereas about half of diffuse deposits had none. It shows where cells sit at a single point in time, not whether microglia cause, clear or respond to plaques; it gives no case numbers, its stored text reports no astrocyte finding, and it tested no treatment.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of neuroimmunology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Neuroimmunology: journal h-index 192 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1989 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 945 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 24.2 citations a year over 39 year(s) since 1989 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 15.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 4 / 6 | Cited by 56 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 72 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Dennis J. Selkoe: h-index 174 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 2808689) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Itagaki, S., McGeer, P. L., Akiyama, H., Zhu, S., & Selkoe, D. (1989). Relationship of microglia and astrocytes to amyloid deposits of Alzheimer disease. Journal of neuroimmunology. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-5728(89)90115-x
Vancouver
Itagaki S, McGeer PL, Akiyama H, Zhu S, Selkoe D. Relationship of microglia and astrocytes to amyloid deposits of Alzheimer disease. Journal of neuroimmunology. 1989. doi:10.1016/0165-5728(89)90115-x. PMID: 2808689.
BibTeX
@article{itagaki1989-2808689,
author = {Itagaki, S. and McGeer, P. L. and Akiyama, H. and Zhu, S. and Selkoe, D.},
title = {{Relationship of microglia and astrocytes to amyloid deposits of Alzheimer disease}},
journal = {Journal of neuroimmunology},
year = {1989},
doi = {10.1016/0165-5728(89)90115-x},
pmid = {2808689},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-5728(89)90115-x}
}
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